How to Write Good Instagram Bios to Make an Impression in 2017

Writing good Instagram bios might seem straightforward, but it actually requires a lot of thought. According to researchers, it takes less than two-tenths of a second for an online visitor to form an impression of your account. It’s really important for that first impression to be a good one!

In the following guide, we’ll walk you through how to write a good Instagram bio that makes a great first impression, explains what your business does, and convinces new visitors to click the “follow” button!

Good Instagram Bios Tip #1: Your Name

According to Jenn Herman from @jenns_trends, the first step to creating a good Instagram bio is making sure that your name is, in fact, your name! (By this, we mean the “name” field in your profile, not your Instagram username). People searching for you on Instagram will likely use your name or your company’s name, and consistency lets people know that the Instagram profile they’re viewing actually belongs to you and not an impostor.

This might seem pretty obvious, but there’s actually a bigger reason for it. As Jen points out, “your name and username are the only fields that Instagram considers in search queries.” As such, it’s important to make sure that the name you use in your Instagram bio is the one your followers and customers are searching for.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t spruce things up a bit! Do you have a specialty or industry niche? Do you offer a specific service? Are you known for something in particular? You can include this detail in your name as well!

Check out how Jenn Herman includes her profession in her Instagram bio name. Not only can adding a unique skill to your name help you stand out from the crowd, but it can help users search for you by your profession.

Good Instagram Bios Tip #2: Your Skills

A good Instagram bio accurately explains what your business is, and what you do. So if you want to stand out for a particular skill, profession, hobby, or interest, you should include these details in your Instagram bio as well!

Think about what sets you apart from your competitors. Do you have a unique set of skills or experiences that might be of interest to your followers? Not only will including these in your Instagram bio serve as an introduction to new viewers, but it can also determine whether they’ll follow.

Social media influencer and blogger Meg Biram is a great example of someone who includes her interests and hobbies in her bio to show off her personal side as well as her professional side.

Good Instagram Bios Tip #3: Keywords

Using keywords won’t improve your search-ability on Instagram (except, as we mentioned above, your “name” in your Instagram bio) but it will give your account more focus and help you connect with followers who want to engage with your content!

When deciding what keywords to include in your Instagram bio, try to think about both your own core values and the core values of your target audience. If you use Instagram for business, spend some time creating a “profile” of your ideal follower. What are their pain points or interests? And what keywords will help you resonate with them most?

Using keywords that target your audience and niche will help users better understand who you are, what you have to offer, and whether or not your account is relevant to them!

Check out how pop-culture writer Luvvie Ajayi uses tailored keywords in her Instagram bio to personify her brand and connect with her followers.

Good Instagram Bios Tip #4: Website Link

Unlike other social networks, Instagram is strict on where clickable links can be placed. Currently, Instagram only gives users one clickable link in the app, and it’s the link in your bio.

A lot of businesses use the link to send followers to their homepage or blog, which is great! But for ecommerce businesses that want to send followers to specific product pages, campaigns, or webinars, the lack of hot links is a huge challenge.

To get around this restriction, some businesses will frequently update their website link to send followers to their latest products or promotions — and then refer to that link in their Instagram captions. The problem is that Instagram’s photo feed is no longer chronological, so when a business’ post says “link in bio,” that link might not correspond to the actual link in their bio.

Good Instagram Bios Tip #5: Get Creative

While it’s very important to convey who you are and what you do in your Instagram bio, you should also think of it as a space for you to show off your fun side. At the end of the day, Instagram is a fairly lighthearted medium, so try not to get too stuck on drafting a formal biography!

Here are some great ways to insert creativity into your Instagram bio:

• Use emojis to space out your text
• Include your branded hashtag to promote an Instagram contest or campaign (hashtags in your bio are clickable on the web but not through the mobile app)
• Change the font in your Instagram bio with Textizer
• Add line breaks to your Instagram bio by typing “Return” in your bio on the web version of Instagram (you can’t add line breaks to your bio in the Instagram mobile app)

Check out how designer and creative Dana Fox uses different fonts and emojis to show off her personality in her Instagram bio. Her use of line breaks also makes for a nicer layout within the mobile app!

Instagram Bio Checklist

A good Instagram bio is one that creates a great first impression and convinces users to click the “follow” button on your account! Here’s a recap of what we covered:  

• Explain who you are and what you do
• Target your niche audience with specific keywords
• Link to your website or blog, or use Linkin.bio to send followers to your shoppable Instagram feed
• Share your personality
• Provide a way for your followers to get in touch

These are just a few creative examples of how brands are using good Instagram bios to drive engagement and sales. Whether you decide to follow one of the styles above or do something completely different, just remember to keep the tips mentioned above in mind during the creation process!

Benjamin Chacon
Benjamin is a Content Writer at Later and recent transplant from Toronto. You can follow his day-to-day exploits on Instagram @benjaminchacs.